[Paul Plots]

I'm assuming Learner that no-one is going to come along and say that they have rules stating that 100% of the plot must be cultivated.

I'd be stumped as mine has a darned great concrete hard standing down the middle. 98% of the rest is cultivated though. 

50 years ago, when my dad first took on the plot, the site wardens and the rules were very strict. I'm not sure anyone had a greenhouse and shed size was restricted but these days almost anything goes... An improvement in some ways and each to their own.

Only real aim these days seems to be that the site must be used for growing and no one is supposed to grow things for commerical gain - seems fair.

Latest meeting discussed possible 'bee keeping' to swell the numbers of the useful little fuzzy things. We are not allowed live-stock of any type. I wish someone would tell 'my' foxes that!

[HilaryG]

I'm intrigued, Christine, as to why you have a huge concrete area in the middle of your plot. What do you use it for? Line dancing? 
Do you think, on the whole, that council run plots are stricter than non-council ones?
Our plots are 'administered' by the local Park Trust and they are very slack with all the rules and regs. which can be good or bad depending on your point of view.
It's fairly rural and we have problems with rabbits, deer, badgers, pigeons and dog walkers.....well not the walkers, but the dogs not on a lead that race all over the place  
We have lots of untended plots and a long waiting list but nothing seems to happen! The odd warning letter has been known to go out but that's about it. A shame when people are crying out for plots me thinks

[beansticks]

We have odd areas of untended plots,none of which i find beautiful.

[Lupin lurcher]

Hi I am all for wildlife but the plot next to ours is only a quarter plot, 5 rods we have got half a plot 10 rods which we spent a couple of days clearing of weeds about 150 bags of we took down the dump.  The seed heads of the plot next to us go everywhere, it is totally neglected, I asked the committee if the owners of disused plot dont want it we would be more than happy to have it as it is adjacent to ours.  A letter was sent out to the people who hadnt been there for about 5 months but they said they still wanted it, they came to the plot pulled about a line  of weeds out, took their been polls,  and then left that was 2 months ago, they havnt been there since.  It makes my blood boil. 

[Paul Plots]

Hi I am all for wildlife but the plot next to ours is only a quarter plot, 5 rods we have got half a plot 10 rods which we spent a couple of days clearing of weeds about 150 bags of we took down the dump.  The seed heads of the plot next to us go everywhere, it is totally neglected, I asked the committee if the owners of disused plot dont want it we would be more than happy to have it as it is adjacent to ours.  A letter was sent out to the people who hadnt been there for about 5 months but they said they still wanted it, they came to the plot pulled about a line  of weeds out, took their been polls,  and then left that was 2 months ago, they havnt been there since.  It makes my blood boil. 

If I were you I would complain about the neglect and the weeds again - repeat the offer of taking it on especially a few weeks before it is time to pay the annual rent!

[Christine]

I'm intrigued, Christine, as to why you have a huge concrete area in the middle of your plot. What do you use it for? Line dancing? 

Someone once years ago got permission to have a garage on the plot and used to mend cars there. Nope - don't know how they managed that.

Nowadays it has some uses. We park the kid's car on it when they come to clear out rubbish that needs to go to the tip. I put tubs of crops on it. If I need something delivered it's handy as stuff can be dumped on it and then sorted at leisure. I also swear at it when it gets in the way. 

[beansticks]

Someone once years ago got permission to have a garage on the plot and used to mend cars there. Nope - don't know how they managed that


UNBELIEVABLE.

[Paul Plots]

We have one untended plot that sounds a little like Christine's. It was a nice patch of soil until a vote declared it should be concreted over to use as a dropping off place for deliveries of manure about 10 years ago.

The idea was a good one at the time - it meant the main path was never blocked by deliveries and spading-up and transfer of manure to the plot was made easier.

These days it is used mainly as an additional car-park for 'the few who cannot walk' and must drive through the allotments everytime they visit. 200 metres is just too far to walk from the road side car-park, isn't it?